Farmer's Union Presidents in Lawrence

LAWRENCE — Roger Johnson, president of the National Farmers Union, will speak today at an open District 3 meeting of the Nebraska Farmers Union in Lawrence. Johnson will speak and take questions at the Lawrence American Legion Hall following a 6:30 p.m. smoked pork chop dinner being catered by Dick’s Place. “We are expecting 60-75 members, but everything, including the dinner, is open to anyone who wants to attend,” said Darrel Buschkoetter of Lawrence, who is helping to organize the evening. “And the Legion bar will be open, also. Everyone is welcome.” District 3 encompasses 16 counties in south central and southwestern Nebraska, including Nuckolls, Clay, Adams, Webster, Franklin, Kearney and Harlan counties in Tribland. Johnson is a third-generation family farmer from Turtle Lake, N.D. Until his election to the Farmers Union post in March, he was serving as North Dakota state agriculture commissioner, which is a publicly elected post. He recently served as president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, and in that capacity, played a role in the crafting of the 2008 Farm Bill. Items to be discussed during the meeting include proposed cap-and-trade environmental legislation and other issues facing agriculture. John Hansen, president of the Nebraska Farmers Union, also will be on hand. Johnson and Hansen will continue their Nebraska speaking tour Thursday with an event in St. Paul. Anyone who would like to eat at Wednesday evening’s dinner is asked to make a reservation ahead so Dick’s Place can have an accurate meal count. Dick’s Place can be reached at 402-756-7412.